Everyone is born with creativity. But those people who appear to be super creative have a secret. They know that creativity has to be developed and exercised to come easily. I am on a quest to immerse myself in creativity of all kinds. I hope you will join me!

 The thought occurred to me today that I have fun, and stretch myself a bit, when I pose an official challenge for myself.

In light of that, I challenge me to 5 Summer Jewelry Projects:

• Use these 5 chosen items from the bead stash.
• Buy nothing else to use with them. Use what is in the stash or what I make from the stash.
• Be finished by the end of summer.
• Share the creative process for each piece.

2. This is a ceramic focal piece that I bought at Bead Fest in Santa Fe, some years ago. I have lost the card that tells me who made it. I love it.  If you recognize the work, and know who the artist is, please shout out! It is 2 1/2" long.

3. I made this PMC (Precious Metal Clay) piece in a class at Bead & Button.  Maybe 4 years ago.  It is tarnished, it has been that long. Seeing a pattern here?? It is 2 1/2" wide and if you do PMC, you know that much clay is not inexpensive, so it is nuts not to do something with it. It has a definite summer theme, so let's get to it!

4. This is a silver napkin ring given to me by my new friend Sheila when I led a mission trip to her house last summer in Landscheid, Germany. One of our projects in the house was turning an icky basement room in to a kid's hang out room.  There were exposed pipes that we turned into a giant caterpillar...named Stella.  We talked about Stella a lot during the week and it make Sheila remember that she had this napkin ring. Which she gave to me. It needs a super creative treatment, don't you think?